Loose leaf binder



Patented Aug. 18, 1936 2,051,617 LoosE LEAF BINDER George W. Newman, St.Louis, Mo., assignor to Loose Leaf Metals Company, a corporation ofMissouri Application January 12, 1935, Serial No. 1,458

3 Claims.

The invention relates to loose leaf binders of the type in which matingsheet carrying arches are supported by a pair of toggle elements,controlled by spring means.

'Ihe object of the invention is to provide improved means for limitingthe action of the toggle joint; and it consists in providing the toggleelements with intertting ribs and grooves, one orv both of them beingprovided with a projecting and outwardly inclined marginal flange or lipoverlapping a face of the companion element and limiting the range ofmovement of the toggle.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a binder embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

While I have shown two forms in which the invention may be embodied, itmay be given other t forms, and though I have shown only toggle elementsin the form of plates, other forms may be employed, as the inventionpertains to the engaging margins of the toggle elements and is notconcerned with the character of their body portions.

The binder as illustrated comprises a pair of toggle plates I8, II, eachcarrying toggle arches I2, I3, arranged in mating pairs. The plates I0,I I, are clamped together by means of a spring arch plate I4, themargins of Which overlap the outer edges of the toggle plates. As thusfar described the binder is of known construction.

In such binders it is necessary that the outward exing of the toggleelements be limited and there are advantages in having means, other thanthe meeting of the arch elements, for limiting the' inward flexure ofthe toggle. Numerous forms of limiting means have heretofore beenprovided, but they are quite expensive of manufacture and have otherdisadvantages.

In the present invention the toggle elements are so interengaged thatintegral limiting means are provided.

In the preferred form of construction, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, theinner or meeting edges of the two plates I Il, I I, are of identicalform, each being longitudinally channeled, and consequently have tongueand groove engagement. One of the tongues or ribs of each of the plates,as shown at I5, I6, is short, these two short ribs serving as hingejournals. The companion ribs, as I 1, I8,

each project as a flange a substantial distance from the inner margin ofthe plate, and are eachY inclined outwardly from the plane of thecorresponding plate, are on opposite sides of the toggle, and limit theextent to which the joint may be 5 exed.

As shown in Fig. 2, the lower flange I8 on the plate I0 comes intoengagement with the lower face of the companion plate II when the archesare opened, thus limiting the opening movement 10 and preventing thedisassembling ofthe parts of the binder by the action of the springplate. As shown in Fig. 1, the upper flange I1 comes into engagementwith the upper face of the plate I0 when the arches,l are closed,relieving the latter in l5 part of the duty of resisting the springcompress1on.

The two toggle plates are identical in form.Y They are shaped up by asuitable machine, and may be formed in long strips and then cut to2@suitable length. In assembling, one plate of a pair is overturnedendwise. The exure of the joint is limited by the engagement of theprojecting flange of one plate with the face of the other plate, and theinterlocking of the two shorter ribs. 25

1. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a pair of toggle plateshaving intertting margin ribs and grooves, one of the plates having aforwardly projecting and outwardly inclined flange overlappingthecompanion plate, mating prongs carried by the plates, and spring meansclampingrthe plates together.

2. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a pair of toggle plateshaving intertting margin ribs and grooves, each of the plates having aVforwardly Vprojecting and outwardly inclined iiange overlapping thecompanion plate, mating prongs carried by the plates, and spring meansclamping the plates together.

3. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a pair of edge to edge matingtoggle plates each having a marginal V-groove anda short rib interttingwith the groove of the companion plate and an elongated rib overlappingthe companion plate, the elongatedV ribs being oppositely disposed,mating arch prongs carried by the plates, and a bowed spring forclamping the plates together.

GEORGE W. NEWMAN. 5o

